In preparation for the upcoming Gulf Championship for Veteran Players, Bahrain’s national team has intensified its training sessions ahead of the tournament. It is set to take place in Kuwait from February 22 to 26. The event is organized by the Arab Gulf Cup Football Federation and marks the inaugural edition of the championship.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Ali bin Isa Al Khalifa, Vice President of the Bahrain Football Association, attended a recent training session to show his support for the team. During his visit, he engaged with the players, encouraging them to compete with determination and confidence. He urged them to draw on their extensive field experience. He also assessed the team’s administrative and technical readiness in discussions with team officials. The discussions included delegation head Abdulaziz Mohammed Al-Ashraf, head coach Khalil Shuwaier, and technical staff members Khamis Eid and Fayyad Mahmoud.
The squad resumed training after a brief rest following a friendly match against Al-Muharraq Club Youth. The session focused on warm-up routines and muscle stretching. It concluded with a tactical drill. Another friendly match was held the following evening against the Al-Rif Union team. This was part of their final preparations for the competition.
Meanwhile, the Gulf Football Association held a press conference in Kuwait. They announced modifications to the tournament’s format. The event has been rebranded as the “First Gulf Cup for Veterans,” with a revised start date of February 22 instead of February 20. The final is scheduled for February 26. Teams have until February 20 to submit their official 20-player rosters.
The championship offers substantial financial incentives. The winning team is set to receive a $200,000 prize. The runner-up will be awarded $150,000. Standout individual performers will each receive 50,000 Qatari riyals. This includes the best player, top scorer, and best goalkeeper.
All tournament matches will be held at Jaber Al-Mubarak Stadium. Training sessions will be allocated to external facilities near Jaber Al-Ahmad Stadium.
